Apple’s NAND storage chip suppliers have included the likes of SK Hynix, Toshiba, and Samsung. The Korean conglomerate is one of the biggest memory chip suppliers in the world which is why even its rivals have to rely on it for memory storage chips. However, Apple seems to be willing to take a chance on a Chinese supplier of memory products. It’s said to be in talks with Yangtze Memory Technologies for NAND memory chips for iPhones.
The Nikkei reported today that Apple is talking to state-backed Yangtze Memory Technologies for a purchase of NAND memory chips. If a deal is reached, it would be the first time that Apple sources this component from a Chinese memory chipmaker.
Chipmakers in China have been particularly focusing on improving the capabilities of their products and ramping up production to establish themselves in a rapidly growing memory market. Samsung is currently the undisputed king and its rivals, Chinese or otherwise, will have to work very hard to steal that coveted spot.
The report also mentions that Apple will just be sourcing these chips for new iPhone models and other products that are sold in China specifically. This means that Yangtze’s chips may not be used in iPhones that are destined for markets other than China. It doesn’t make any predictions about whether or not the deal will go through.
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